blacksmith. The Bliss Genealogy (1881, 1909) covers this whole line, and all of the dates, most apparently correct. The 1881 work discusses at length the ancestor Thomas Bliss of Belstone parish, but the 1909 update disparages the work in, England and finds only a John Bliss of Preston Parva with no evidence for Thomas -- nonetheless, the dates are similar and "Alice Smith" is found for the wife of John as it was for Thomas.
The will of John Bliss, a blacksmith of Preston Parva, who died in 1617, is on file at the District Probate Registry in the city of Northampton, the county seat of Northamptonshire, England. In this will, written Sept. 8th 1617, and probated Oct. 11 following, John Bliss specifically names his sons Thomas and George, daughters Agnes, Joane. Constance and Elizabeth and son John Bliss, and the testator's wife Alice, whose maiden name was Smith This will gave his seven children sixpence each, and the balance cf his estate to his wife Alice.
The following is from the Bliss genealogy. It is unclear how well it is attached to John Bliss of Preston Parva, and Thomas his son, as the 1909 editor of the genealogy is doubtful of the original 1881 treatise when it comes to the story in, England. "Two of the men who went up to London from Devonshire with their member were the brothers Jonathan and Thomas Bliss ; they rode two iron grey horses, and remained sometime in the city, long enough at least for Charles' officers and spies to learn their names and condition, and whence they came ; and from that time forth they, with otherswho had come up to London on the same errand, were marked for destruction. Very soon they were fined a thousand pounds for nonconformity, and thrown into prison where they lay for many weeks. Even old Mr. Thomas Bliss, their father, was dragged through the streets with the greatest indignity. On another occasion the officers of the High Commission seized all their horses and sheep except one poor ewe that in its fright ran into the house and took refuge under a bed. At another time the three brothers, with twelve more, were led through the market-place in Okehampton with ropes around their necks, and fined heavily, and Jonathan and his father were thrown into prison, where the sufferings of the former eventually caused his death. The Blisses among others were seized, and one time they had to pay about $5,000 besides lying in a dark damp prison many weeks, and their old grandfather, almost ninety years old, was dragged through the streets and used very roughly. Afterwards the king's officers drove off all their horses and sheep except one poor ewe that was so scared it ran into the house, and the boys hid it under their bed. Some of them (the children) followed their flocks a long way on the road,crying as they went. Another year the king's officers seized their cattle and most of their household goods, � some of the latter being esteemed of great value, having been in the family for hundreds of years. And then they threw Thomas Bliss and his eldest son, Jonathan, into prison. His other sons, Thomas and George, raised the money on the estate and released their father, but Jonathan's fine was too great for them in their reduced condition, and at Exeter he suffered thirty-five lashes with a three corded whip.
Just before Jonathan was liberated from prison they were obliged to sell the estate, which had been in the family for over two hundred years. At the breaking up, Thomas (the father) and his wife went to reside with their daughter, (who was an Episcopalian, and married to Sir John Calcliffe, and lived in a castle not far from them,) and dividing the remnant of his estate among his three sons, told them to come to America. Thomas and George feared to wait for Jonathan who was very sick, and they left, England with their families in the autumn of 1635. Thomas (son of Jonathan, and grandson of Thomas,) remained with his father, who at last died of his hardships and a fever contracted in the prison. Whatever other children or wife Jonathan had, none but Thomas came to America, and he followed his uncles the next year, and settled near Thomas, and they two kept together as long as the uncle lived. At various times Lady Calcliffe sent them, from, England, boxes of shoes, and clothing, and other necessary things that they could not procure in the colony. And it is through some of her letters being long preserved that these traditions were kept alive in the family, but what became of the letters at last, or who had them, we have been unable to learn."